Day 11 - All The Way My Saviour Leads Me

Day 11 - All the Way My Saviour Leads Me

All the way my Saviour leads me  

Who have I to ask beside  

How could I doubt His tender mercy  

Who through life has been my guide 

All the way my Savior leads me  

Cheers each winding path I tread  

Gives me grace for every trial  

Feeds me with the living Bread 

You lead me and keep me from falling  

You carry me close to Your heart  

And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me 

All the way my Savior leads me  

Oh, the fullness of His love Oh, the sureness of His promise  

In the triumph of His blood  

And when my spirit clothed immortal  

Wings its flight to realms of day  

This my song through endless ages  

Jesus led me all the way Jesus led me all the way 

Knowing who God is gives us confidence for the future. Jesus is not just a best friend we can relate to but Saviour. He leads us through the unknown as the God who knows all things and is outside of time knowing the beginning and end. We can have confidence in Him even when we do not have confidence in ourselves or our circumstances. We can have confidence in his promises as they are not wishful thinking or dreams and ambitions like us mere humans. He’s promises are eternal and he has triumphed over all things and we will be clothed immortal. When he leads us he doesn’t just speak to us, he provides for us ‘living bread’, he equips us and graces us for every trial. This holistic view of God’s leading is reflected in Psalm 23 

Psalm 23 

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

He provides for us, he gives us rest, peace and refreshes our soul, he does not abandon us when we walk through the darkest valley’s instead he comforts us that we no longer fear. He guides us and knows the way ahead so we don’t have to. He allows us to thrive even in the presence of our enemies. Therefore we can say with confidence, SURELY, your goodness and mercy will follow me. 

His guidance is a greater guidance than what job we do etc he guides us through this life into eternal life with Him. Let’s see God’s greatest plan for our lives and the direction we are heading with his victory in and through Jesus. Having an eternal perspective can help us refocus our lives. 

'Think about / Meditate on': 

• Write down or declare who God is to you 

• Do you feel God’s leading? Pray for greater sensitivity to hear God’s voice in your life 

• Spend time considering God’s leading in your life and your final destination that is secure in Christ. 

• Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/LTZjUQWxH74

Written by Pastor Katherine Parsons (Lead Pastor - C3 UL Sutton Central)

Day 10 - Whole Heart

Day 10 - Whole Heart ( Hillsong UNITED)

I spoke yesterday during Church Online about replacing fear with faith. (Find the message on our Facebook page) I said that praise is an antidote to fear. The line in the song ‘Whole Heart’ “That I might stand with more reason to sing than to fear” is one I want to be so true in my life. That I might have more reason to worship God than to doubt, more reason to declare His truth than give in to my insecurities and so on. 

We fear different things, at different times of our lives, for varying reasons. Fear has its root in many guises; rejection, comparison, lack of self-worth, intimidation. 

Think it over / Meditate on: 

• What are you fearful of today? When you use this song to worship today, declare faith, choose to replace fear with God’s perfect love. 

• Open your heart to His Holy Spirit today, and ask God to break the fear in Jesus Name. If you want to, ask a trusted friend to stand with you today as you choose to stand in His freedom 

• Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/eRUM70CPYls  

Written by Senior Pastor Charmaine

Day 9 - Awesome God

Day 9 - Awesome God (Written by Rich Mullins performed by Hillsong UNITED)

“Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above.

With wisdom, power, and love. Our God is an awesome God.” 

I like the word awesome. I understand that might be more an American word and I say it way too much (as an American myself) but it does get the message across. 

The word awesome can be defined as: causing or inducing awe; inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear: an awesome sight. exhibiting or marked by awe; showing reverence, admiration, or fear. 

We can also use words like breath-taking, stunning, formidable, magnificent, and wondrous. 

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God” - Deuteronomy 10:17 (NLT) 

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT) 

I could mention hundreds of Bible verses referring to God’s awesomeness. 

Let’s take a couple of minutes to look at one of the three ways mentioned in the song of God’s awesomeness. His power! 

“He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” - Psalm 147:4-5 (NLT) 

Did you know that you can dedicate a star to someone? For only £35 you can dedicate a name to a real star in the night sky. How cool is that! I might have to dedicate a star to each of my children. 

But God did way more than this. He was the one who created the stars and have already given each of them a name! Wow! With all our advances in science and technology, I am pretty sure we haven’t figured out how to make a star. 

That is how powerful our God is! 

May you let your heart and mind consider the awesomeness of who God is! 

Think it over / Meditate on: 

• How have you seen God’s power exhibited in the world around you? / In your own life? 

• How does knowing that God is all-powerful change/affect the way you live on a daily basis? 

• Take some time this week to observe God’s beauty and majesty in nature. 

• Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/hXa75K0dftQ

Written by Grant Chinn - Families Pastor

Day 8 - Anchor

Day 8 - Anchor (Hillsong Worship)

What’s in a name? 

When Charmaine and I were eagerly waiting to start a family and have kids, we talked about their possible names. In fact, people asked us what we might name our kids! There is a fascination with what babies will be called. Sometimes, when you know people’s story, and know them well, you can have a good stab at figuring out what their child might be called. 

Some names just suit the person, I mean Usain Bolt, Albert Einstein, they all hit the mark don’t they! One ‘famous’ name which does the opposite is from the world of economics, certainly seemingly an outlier, is the name, Adam Smith! A remarkable name, with the simplest, plainest name you could ask for! 

A name is important! I think of people in the Bible, their name meant something. God turned Abram into Abraham, changing his name’s meaning into ‘Father of Many Nations.’ In Hebrews 6, we are told in v 13-14 that: 

Now when God made a promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater than himself, he swore an oath on his own integrity to keep the promise as sure as God exists! So he said: “Have no doubt, I promise to bless you over and over, and give you a son and multiply you without measure!” 

The names of Bolt, Einstein, Smith, they all point to something, an achievement, a record, an invention, but what about their character? The annuals of history are remarkable silent on them, as to whether they could be trusted. But, here, God promises, on his own integrity, that His promises would be kept! This is not a mere man, making a promise, this is the Creator God, the name about all names, King of all Kings – what a promise for Abraham. 

Anchor, by Hillsong, was written partly out of a desperate situation (where one of the songwriter’s wives had just miscarried), where God’s promises where so important to hold on to. And if I’m honest, I’m been there too, in situations, facing challenges, which seem insurmountable in my own strength, where all I can do is to take God at His Word, and at His Name. And, what a hope we have in that – His Word AND His Name.  

A couple of lyrics from this song remind us that: 

There is hope in the promise of the cross 

You gave everything to save the world You love 

And this hope is an anchor for my soul 

Our God will stand unshakable 

 An anchor is used to secure a ship, to stop it being carried away by the wind and waves. Sometimes, we need to anchor ourselves to God, knowing that He is unshakable, that He is more than capable of holding us secure and safe.  

The bridge of the song is impacting: 

Your Name is higher 

Your Name is greater 

All my hope is in You 

Your word unfailing 

Your promise unshaken 

All my hope is in You 

We can put our confidence in Him, because His Name is higher and greater, and His Word, the Bible, is unfailing. Abraham took God at His promise, we can do the same – we are reminded in Romans 8, v 31 (MSG) onwards: 

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?  

What confidence we have, in God’s promises, His character, His Word, His Name! 

Think it over / Meditate on: 

• Listen to this song (https://youtu.be/87GYkLfQQ-8) and sing it over the situations in your life where you need reminding that God is Higher & Greater. 

• What areas are you trying to do it in your own strength? Sing this and surrender those fully to God, submit them to God’s truths.  

• When all seems shaken, His promises are unshakeable, His Word is unshakeable, His Name is infallible, HE IS UNSHAKEABLE – pray that as a declaration today. 

Written by Senior Pastor Tim

Day 7 - Every Giant Will Fall

Day 7 - Every Giant Will Fall (Rend Collective)

“Every Giant will fall, every mountain will move.

Every chain of the past you’ve broken in two.

Over fear, over lies, we’re singing the truth.

That nothing is impossible with you.” 

Are there giants present in your life? 

Are there situations or obstacles that seem too big? Even before the battle, you feel defeated. 

That is how the Israelites felt before the Philistines as they faced each other on the battlefield. The Philistines had a secret weapon. A giant of a man called Goliath who weighed around 300lbs and stood between 7-8 ft tall. You can find this story in 1 Samuel 17. 

But the Israelites have a bigger weapon and that was the God of the angel armies. The God who created the heavens and the earth. 

I love David’s response when he sees that the Israelite army will not go into battle against the Philistine. 

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” – 1 Samuel 17:36-37 (NIV) 

Who has Goliath defied? The Armies of the Living God. 

Who would win this battle against the Philistines? God would! 

Was David good with a sling and a stone? Yes! 

But David also acknowledged that it was God who ultimately defeated the giant and delivered him into the David’s hand. 

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands” – 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV) 

David’s courage reminds us that every giant will fall and there is no obstacle too big and impossible for God. 

May we have the courage of David knowing that it is God’s who fights our battles. 

And it’s His love that is our battle cry! 

Think It Over / Meditate On 

• What giants are you currently facing? 

• How does knowing that God is the one fighting our battles help you face your giants? 

• What tools has God given you (Like a sling and a stone) to fight giants? 

• Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/EF84v-oOhp0

Written by Grant Chinn - Families Pastor

Day 6 - Surrounded (Fight My Battles)

Day 6 - Surrounded (Fight My Battles)

“This is how I fight my battles. It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by you” 

What an amazing line! 

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of fighting battles is the movie 300. The plot revolves around King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian "God-King" Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers in the battle of Thermopylae. 

For seven days, the Spartans were able to hold the Persians at bay. Even though the Spartans fought valiantly, they could not hold off the larger military force of the Persians. 

The sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians reminds us that we are also engaged in a battle but of a different kind. A battle that is not of flesh and blood but in the spiritual places. 

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT) 

Notice what the Apostle Paul says in verse ten. Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Did you catch that? We don’t go into battle in our own power, but in his. 

So many times, I feel surrounded and overwhelmed in battle. I feel like the Spartans going up against the mighty Persians. Outnumbered on every side. 

But here is the good news! God will fight for you! 

Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

Next time your engaged in a spiritual battle, remember that you are surrounded by God. Where does our help come from? It comes from God. 

Think it over / Mediate on 

• Where have you been engaged in a spiritual battle lately? 

• How does knowing that God is fighting your battles help you stand firm? 

• Take a moment to praise God and thank him for being our ever-present help in times of trouble! 

• Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/YBl84oZxnJ4

Written by Grant Chinn - Families Pastor

Day 5 - Even When It Hurts

Day 5 - Even When It Hurts (Hillsong UNITED)

Sometimes, it takes me a while to catch a melody and the heart behind a new worship album; Empires, by Hillsong UNITED, was one of those, but after listening to them in the car, in the home, searching out the lyrics to follow, I began to feel the depth of these songs which often become my own prayers. I returned to this particular song back in late 2016 into 2017, a time when life did hurt. This song was hard to sing, because I knew the truth in it, but it expressed so much of what my heart was feeling, which meant I wanted to sing it and believe it. 

Even when my strength is lost I'll praise you 

Even when I have no song I'll praise you 

Even when it's hard to find the words 

Louder then I'll sing your praise , I will only sing your praise 

I knew that no matter what I was walking through, no matter how I felt, I had to praise; I wanted to praise, I would find God in that place of praise. Praise takes your focus off the circumstances and on how awesome, how powerful, how loving and faithful God is. It meant that every time I had said to others, “you need to praise through it”, or “lean into God for your breakthrough”, I had to practice what I preached. I knew and had experience the power of praise, but not so much in a season of pain. But this is when I found the strength in praise. 

Take this mountain weight Take these ocean tears Hold me through the trial Come like hope again 

This song also highlighted the place that I needed to go to; the change that was needed in my heart. This second verse is a pray, casting our worries, our heavy burdens, our tears to God, asking Him to be close and to be the Hope in our lives. 

Lord my heart burns only for you You are all you are all I want And my soul waits only for you 

And I will sing till the miracle comes 

I’m reminded of the verses from Habbakuk 3:17-18 that says: 

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”  

This picture in Habakkuk is dire! No harvest, no food, no crops, no evidence of life or growth, YET, wow the power of a three letter word, yet the prophet chooses to rejoice in the Lord and to be joyful in Him! 

I hope that you are encouraged today to find strength in praise, ‘even when it hurts’. 

Think about / Meditate on: 

• Read through Habbakuk 3:17-18 and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. Are you walking through something now that you need to praise God through the challenge? Or do you know others who are, who you can pray for today? 

• Listen to this song (https://youtu.be/3Sv_876eqxg) and declare in your life today that you will ‘sing’ you will praise, until the miracle comes, that no matter what, you will choose to worship 

• Thank God today that we can praise Him at any time, at any place. He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him. 

Written by Senior Pastor Charmaine

Day 4 - Goodness of God

Day 4 - Goodness of God

I love You, Lord Oh Your mercy never fails me  

All my days, I've been held in Your hands  

From the moment that I wake up  

Until I lay my head Oh,  

I will sing of the goodness of God  

Cause all my life You have been faithful  

And all my life You have been so, so good  

With every breath that I am able  

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God  

I love Your voice You have led me through the fire  

And in darkest night You are close like no other  

I've known You as a Father I've known You as a Friend  

And I have lived in the goodness of God,  

This song always moves me when I reflect back on my life and see God. Often in the moment of our troubles it can be hard to see what God is doing but hindsight is a wonderful thing. With hindsight we can see more clearly. When we reflect back we can process our past, but it is important to process our past in the context of God and build a new narrative for us to step into our future. We may not feel that God is close to us in our darkest night at the time but I can look back and see God was there through others or key points etc. The Bible especially in the Old Testament highlights the importance of reflecting and remembering our past and highlighting the key milestones. We should remind ourselves of who God is and who he has been in our life as he never changes. Joshua encourages the Israelites to continue to possess and take the promise land by reminding them of what God has done before. 

Joshua 23: 9-11 

“For the LORD has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 

Looking back at God’s faithfulness can make us full of faith for the future, to step into all God has for us and to overcome the challenges we face. If God has done it before he can do it again and reignite our love for Him. It’s like looking back at old photo albums to recapture your love for family and friends and can bring you closes to them as you recount stories and retell of crazy times but with a smile on your face. I pray that we will look back at 2020 and recount stories of God’s faithfulness and goodness to us with a smile despite the challenges at the time that maybe did not feel so funny. When we look back we can see God’s goodness and faithfulness to us even if it didn’t go according to our plans and wasn’t a good time. We know God’s goodness is running after me and you. Knowing this allows us to surrender to God’s plans as we know he has good plans for us even if it feels scary. Declaring his goodness in the face of our current circumstances can change us and our circumstances. 

Think about / Meditate on: 

• Recount times in your life you have known God’s goodness and faithfulness. If you don’t record these maybe journal these milestones to remember again when we face our future. 

• Spend time declaring the goodness of God in your life now as you sing this song. 

Written by Pastor Katherine Parsons (Lead Pastor - C3 UL Sutton Central)

Day 3 - Lift Up His Name

Day 3 - Lift Up His Name (Phatfish)

I spoke yesterday (at Church Online) on one of my favourite worship songs, called ‘Lift Up His Name (Holy Holy)’ by the band Phatfish. (Still a rubbish band name). I spoke of how we must not become over familiar and lose our reverence and awe of Jesus. 

We looked at Revelation 4:1-8 which paints an amazing picture of Jesus in heaven being worshipped. It’s worth another read!  

The song quotes directly from these verses, the chorus is. 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 

 We must never lose sight of who we worship, or how holy Jesus is, he is not just holy, He is Holy, Holy, Holy! 

 I finished my message with a verse from 1 Peter 1:16 - “Be holy because I am holy.” (I encourage you to read all of 1 Peter chapter 1.) 

 A simple one sentence verse, yet so hard hitting when considering the supreme holiness of God as we have, is such holiness even attainable? 

Hebrews 10:10 tells us that as Christians, Jesus has already made us holy, so we are called to live a life worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4:1). Be holy, as he is holy. 

 Think it over / Meditate on: 

• Take some time to write down the primary ways you see Jesus/God. 

• Are they primarily attributes that benefit you? For example, friend, brother, Father, helper, councillor?  

• Spend today reflecting on God as your Holy King and Lord. You can listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/BBnNHiyEo5Q 

• How would your life be different if you saw Jesus this way more often as well as friend and father etc? 

• How does knowing more fully Jesus’ holiness effect our knowledge of him as father and friend? 

Written by Ben Parsons (Lead Pastor C3UL Sutton Central)

Day 2 - Yes I Will

Day 2 - Yes I Will (Vertical Worship)

If we’re honest, when things don’t go our way or we’re angry or upset about something, we’re like a child who reacts with a tantrum or a teenager who storms off; we’ve just learned to be less public and internalise our frustrations! 

Psalm 34 says:  

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 

But how often do we just not want to praise, not want to engage! How often do we approach worship, going to church/gathering for Church Online, or jumping onto Zoom for Connect Group with...do I have to? This new song ‘Yes I Will’ is a reflection of Psalm 34 – and makes the strong statement of ‘I WILL’! 

The chorus says: 

Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley 

Yes I will, bless Your name 

Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy 

All my days, oh yes I will 

It’s a choice, a decision and one we have to make all the time. 

Just last week, in a moment, negative thoughts flew to my mind and I thought of every reason why something wouldn’t be possible...then this song came on in the car and these words suddenly ‘shouted’ right to the heart: 

The same God that never fails Will not fail me now You won't fail me now In the waiting The same God who's never late Is working all things out You're working all things out  

He won’t fail me now...in the waiting, the same God who’s never late is working all things out! Yes He is! I suddenly sang that song with a new gusto (not sure if Tim realised, why I suddenly burst into song!)  

This is a song that builds with awesome proclamations! Sing it today: https://youtu.be/NrTv39-lG4M - what a faithful God we serve! 

Think it over / Meditate on: 

• Use Psalm 34 and the song today  - read it, churn it over, what is God saying to you as you read it.  

• Reflect on how God has provided for you; financially, for work, for solution, friendships and so on – thank Him and glorify Him today 

Written by Senior Pastor Charmaine

Day 1 - O Come To The Altar

Welcome to Day 1 of our Summer Devotional 2020. We’re believing you’ll be encouraged as you read, as you meditate on God’s Word and as you allow the Holy Spirit to move, speak and reveal more of Jesus to you. As you listen to all the songs that are part of these devotions we know you’ll experience the awesome presence of God.

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Day 1 - O Come To The Altar (Elevation Worship)

I love musicals, unashamedly so and would boast in knowing the lyrics of many well-known tunes; from The Sound Of Music, The King & I, West Side Story and ‘Oliver!’ they were all well loved. Apart from ‘Food Glorious Food!’, I loved the scene and song ‘Who Will Buy’ when different street sellers would come out and sing to sell their produce or service. It contrasted the earlier song ‘Boy For Sale’, from sad and laboured to bright and cheerful. In the time that Oliver was set, young orphaned children, were traded, bought and sold to work in homes/factories and it got me thinking about a beautiful song we sing ‘O Come To The Altar’.  

It’s a song of surrender and both verses ask questions or bring us to action, to do something. Verse 2 always stands out for me particularly, it says this: 

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy 

From the ashes a new life is born 

Jesus is calling. 

When we come to Jesus, He asks us to trade with Him, to exchange, to surrender. And He’s not asking us to trade precious things for something rubbish. He asks us to bring our sorrow, our pain, our hurt, our disappointment, and to trade them for His joy! I LOVE that.  

Jesus died on the Cross so that we might be free, live free, and have life forever and eternal with Him. Isaiah 53:4 says this: 

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. 

Jesus took all of our sorrow, our weakness all on Him. The Cross was an exchange of my life for His. God traded His Son for us, for you for me...and through Him, accepting His forgiveness and submitting to His Lordship in our lives means a new life is born! 

I think it’s so easy sometime to bring our sorrows to God, but we refuse to trade...we either see ourselves as so far from being helped, that we try to give Him our rubbish and just run...but He wants to trade, He wants to exchange the hurt for His joy – and what an exchange! It costs us a life surrendered to Him, but we receive so much more – His grace, His love, His peace, His provision, His wisdom...I could go on! 

It’s good to return to an altar, to surrender ourselves to God afresh at different moments in our life. Do you need to come to Jesus again? Have you become too comfortable with Jesus – is He really Lord, have you really surrendered every area of your life to Him? Come to Him today, trade your sorrow for His joy. 

O what a Saviour! Isn’t He wonderful – sing hallelujah, Christ is risen 

Bow down bore Him – for He is Lord of all – sing hallelujah, Christ is risen 

Think about / Meditate on: 

• Thank God today for who He is, thank Jesus for the exchange He made on the Cross, thank the Holy Spirit for His prompts and moments of awakening you to what God is saying 

• Bring any concerns, sorrows, needs to God and trade them for His peace, His joy – all that you need today – surrender your life afresh 

• Ask the Holy Spirit to refresh and fill you anew 

• Link to the song: https://youtu.be/rYQ5yXCc_CA

Written by Senior Pastor Charmaine